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Phil Kessel and Dale Weise are lucky — being suspended for the pre-season is like being suspended from math class.

Punishment? More like ‘Thank you sir, may I have another?’

If Sam Gagner had been suspended for the pre-season, he wouldn’t have a broken jaw and the Edmonton Oilers wouldn’t be living hand to mouth at centre.

It’s a necessary evil, about four games of which aren’t even really necessary.

Fortunately, the long and painfully boring exercise is almost over.

“It’s nice to know that this is our last exhibition game,” said Edmonton Oilers winger Taylor Hall, on the eve of Friday’s date with the Dallas Stars in Oklahoma City. “It’s your last game to really get what you need to get going.

“It’s a long training camp and some of the games are a bit meaningless, but now we know we have one more game to prep and then it’s show time.”

It’s also the first look at Edmonton’s final roster. With all of the cuts in the books, head coach Dallas Eakins can now focus on lines and systems and all of the other elements he wants in place for opening night.

“It’s so good, just because you can start to get detailed in your practices and start to look at some lines,” said Eakins, who ran a nearly two-hour session Thursday afternoon. “Today was the first day we’ve worked on a power play. We’ve been putting a lot of thought into it as we’ve gone through the exhibition, but now we can really see if it’s going to work.

“It’s an exciting time not just for the coaching staff, but for the players. They want to get down to the numbers, too, they’re ready to get going. They want the season to start. One more game to try a few different things and then it’ll be all business from there on in.”

And Hall says the mood in the room is unanimous in that the home opener against Winnipeg is as big as any game they’ll play this year.

“These two points that are up for grabs in our first game are just as important as Game 82 and we have to be ready for that.”

NOT IN A HURRY: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins knows the Oilers need him back, and fast, but it’s not like he can tell his shoulder to hurry up and heal. And he says he’s not coming back until it is.

“With Sam out it’s tough, for sure, but I don’t think I can change anything,” he said. “I have to get back 100% healthy. Once I’m ready I’ll for sure be going. I want to play as soon as I can.

“It’s tough for me to sit out, especially when something like (Gagner’s injury) happens, but I just have to be patient because in the long tun it’ll pay off.”

He says the Nov. 1 return date isn’t carved in stone, though.

“We’re not too sure, it’ll all depend on the next couple of weeks.”

LONG TIME NO SEE: It hasn’t even been one regular season game since Shawn Horcoff left Edmonton for Dallas, but his former teammates are looking forward to a reunion when the teams meet in OKC.

“I hope he’s playing, it would be good to see him,” said Hall, who’s glad to hear that the former captain is enjoying Texas. “I’m happy for him, it sounds like he’s doing well. He was a really good guy for our team to have, a very good leader. I can already tell that he’s not around.”

As Advertised in the Edmonton SUN

Edmonton Oilers ready to put painful preseason behind them

Phil Kessel and Dale Weise are lucky — being suspended for the pre-season is like being suspended from math class.

Punishment? More like ‘Thank you sir, may I have another?’

If Sam Gagner had been suspended for the pre-season, he wouldn’t have a broken jaw and the Edmonton Oilers wouldn’t be living hand to mouth at centre.

It’s a necessary evil, about four games of which aren’t even really necessary.

Fortunately, the long and painfully boring exercise is almost over.

“It’s nice to know that this is our last exhibition game,” said Edmonton Oilers winger Taylor Hall, on the eve of Friday’s date with the Dallas Stars in Oklahoma City. “It’s your last game to really get what you need to get going.

“It’s a long training camp and some of the games are a bit meaningless, but now we know we have one more game to prep and then it’s show time.”

It’s also the first look at Edmonton’s final roster. With all of the cuts in the books, head coach Dallas Ea